Warriors vice president Chris Mullin didn't sidestep the question, not that he could, really, with the franchise's $100 million investment in forwards Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy anchored to the bench of late.

How disappointing is it that his big-money players aren't producing?

"It's disappointing," Mullin said during a rare interview Thursday. "Mike and Murph, we need more out of them, there's no question about it. I don't think they would deny that. I don't think anyone would."

What Mullin denied is that he'll be forced to make a move before the Feb. 22 trade deadline, even if that's the most likely he acknowledged the stickiness of having a roster with players whose productivity isn't matching their paychecks.

Mullin's pricey frontline of Dunleavy, Murphy and Adonal Foyle has been replaced by the bargain lineup of Mickael Pietrus, Matt Barnes and Andris Biedrins, and while the latter three have played crucial roles in keeping the Warriors around .500, Mullin has almost no way of keeping them -- or making other improvements -- as long as he's saddled with the contracts of the first three.

Barnes is making the league minimum for a fourth-year player and Pietrus is in the final year of his rookie deal. Both figure to command at least a portion of some team's mid-level exception this summer, when Biedrins will be due for an extension. Monta Ellis also has only one year left on his deal.

That doesn't bode well for a team barely avoiding the luxury tax this season, still struggling to find a creator outside of Baron Davis and still in need of upgrades at the forward spots.

Nelson blasted Dunleavy and Murphy on Friday after the two combined for 10 points on 4-for-13 shooting, 10 rebounds and four assists in 50 minutes against the heat.

"Where are our veterans? What the hell are they doing?" Nelson said. "We shouldn't be relying on Matt Barnes to have a good game to win, but that's where we're at." Murphy is averaging 8.8 points and 5.9 rebounds in 25.7 minutes per game, while Dunleavy (11.3, 4.6, 26. and Foyle (2.5, 2.2, 9.5) haven't fared much better. On the flipside, there's Pietrus (13.7, 5.0, 31.1), Barnes (11.2, 4.7, 26.1) and Biedrins (10.4, 9.6, 28.9).

With the former starters under-producing, does Mullin still believe he has the right pieces for Nelson's up-tempo game?

"I think we've had some decent success playing this style," Mullin said. "Some have adapted to it easier than others. But we'll see how it goes from here on out.

"Some of the guys that haven't played well, do I see them fitting in? Yeah, if they can do it. It hasn't happened, so we'll see what happens."

Though multiple league sources said the Warriors have had discussions with other teams about Dunleavy and Murphy, nothing appears imminent. Murphy's agent, Dan Fegan, spoke to Mullin about his client's role earlier this season, but Mullin said Fegan has not asked for a trade yet.

Still, the forward isn't happy that Nelson's preference for smaller lineups, combined with his own ineffectiveness after nose and foot injuries, has compacted his playing time.

"I know I can do more. Whether or not I get that shot is not up to me," Murphy said. "All I can do is continue to work and be ready. That's pretty much it."

Mullin said Murphy's broken nose has been costlier than the forward wants to admit, and that Dunleavy has played well in stretches, if not consistently. He also believes 6-8 forward Ike Diogu can be a factor inside.

Mullin declined to answer any questions about trades, though judging by the number of times his cell phone rang during a 20-minute interview, it's safe to say he's scouring the market.

"If this doesn't go right, there ain't no question. It's on me," Mullin said of his own job security. "I'd be more than glad to handle that. Full throttle, full boat. All day, all night."

uptempo wrote:It reminds me a lot of the situation that the Warriors had with Donyell Marshall...only times three!

As I remember, the Warriors acquired Marshall's contract. plus, Donyell played good ball for the Warriors in their poorest of times (post Chris Webber) and that guy from North Carolina who names escapes me. The guy play horrible for the Warriors and then played fairly well for the Suns. Plua Marshall brought a slim ray of excitement with his slam dunks and blocked shots.

Donyell is still doing well in the NBA even as Webber and the other guy has either worn down or disapeared. I would rather have Marshall now than Dunleavy.

ReginaldLewis wrote:As I remember, the Warriors acquired Marshall's contract. plus, Donyell played good ball for the Warriors in their poorest of times (post Chris Webber) and that guy from North Carolina who names escapes me. The guy play horrible for the Warriors and then played fairly well for the Suns. Plua Marshall brought a slim ray of excitement with his slam dunks and blocked shots.

Gugliotta... unless you're thinking of other North Carolina guy. Had a weird career. Played well for the Bullets (still think it was dumb to change their name, but whatever...) great for Minny (even made an all star, if I remember well) and poorly for us. His first two seasons in Phoenix were decent, but then he disappeared.

ReginaldLewis wrote:Donyell is still doing well in the NBA even as Webber and the other guy has either worn down or disapeared. I would rather have Marshall now than Dunleavy.

Marshall was (is) a pretty decent player, but there are some similarities with Dunleavy. Both were high picks that didn't deliver what was expected from them (a #3 Dun and a #4 Donyell)... but Minny was smart to realize what they had in Marshall, so they traded him as soon as they could.

I think their careers can be similar. Decent role players, but nothing else. And Dun probably will have to leave the W's to start being appreciated for what he is. It's not easy for any fanbase to embrace the player they expected to lift the team from mediocrity as just a role player.